Cabinet



Sept. 30, 1941. H, PAGE 2,257,188

CABINET Filed Dec. 5, 1938 1N v'ENTOR.

JO/ 2 fly ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 30, 1941 CABINET John H. Page, Muskegon, Mich, assignor to The Shaw-Walker Company, Muskegon, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 5, 1938, Serial No. 244,018

T GFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a transfer sorting cabinet, and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

It is customary in business and other oifice 5 consists of an upright pedestal having sides [2, practice to collect and assort papers temporari- I2 braced apart and held in parallel vertical rely according to alphabetical or other classificalation by means of Vertically spaced members, tion in a tray mounted upon a stand, and then preferably platforms or shelves, l3, 14 extendto later transfer said papers as thus assorted to ing between. Said sides include upright bars files at intervals, depending upon the accumul0 l5, it which depend below the level of the lower lation of the papers in the sorting tray. When shelf Hi to present legs for the pedestal mounted sorting the papers in the tray in the first place, as shown on casters ll, [1 for convenience in the operator is generally seated, as at a desk at moving the cabinet from place to place. which he is working. But when the standbear- The tray H (which also is preferably made of ing the tray is moved to the files to which the 15 sheet metal) has upright parallel side walls H assorted papers are to be transferred, it is H and upwardly and outwardly inclined end generally inconvenient, if not impossible, for the walls ll ll adapted to accommodate the files operator to make such transfer when seated. contained in the tray when shifted towards one A stand which supports the sorting tray at the or the other end of the tray for the insertion correct height for use from a seated position is of papers into the folders contained therein. It too low for convenient use from a standing has a bottom wall H The end walls ll are Position. continued below said bottom wall H and are The object of this invention is to provide a there bent at an angle to form supporting transfer cabinet including a sorting tray for flan 8, 8 x in p ll to and l w use by a seated operator and for use when the the bottom wall I l Said supporting flanges are operator is standing. adapted to rest upon the platform 14 when the The advantages of the invention will appear tray is in its lower position, as shown in full lines more clearly as I proceed with my specification. n Figures 1 d and n dotted lines in Figure In the drawing: 4, and they are so spaced longitudinally of the Figure 1 is a perspective View of the novel tray as C p d t0 e spacing of h Sides transfer cabinet with the sorting tray in posi- I2 of the stand that when the tray is disposed tion for use by an operator when seated. lengthwise at right angles to said sides [2 of Figure 2 is a perspective View of said transfer the pedestal, the flanges will rest upon the top cabinet with the tray in a higher position for rails of said sides, as shown in full lines in Figuse by an operator when standing. ures 2 and 4, and in dotted lines in Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a view representing a vertical sec- To maintain the tray against horizontal distion through the transfer cabinet, with the tray placement when supported by the flanges I8 in the position it occupies in Figure 1, the plane on said platform [4, the platform is provided of the section being indicated by the line 33 of near each side with fixed, p rounded u s Figure 4. 40 is adapted to be engaged in correspondingly Figure 4 is a section indicated by the line 4-4 spaced apertures l8 in the supporting flanges of Figure 3, with the tray in position for use by 18 of the tray, as shown in full lines in Figure 3, an operator who is standing. and the top rails of the sides of the stand l2 Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail section on are provided With similar fixed lugs Ili I9 an enlarged scal showing a device for mainspaced correspondingly to the distance between taining the tray against horizontal displacement, the spacing of the apertures l8 when measured when in either position. transversely of the tray, as shown in dotted lines Referring now to that embodiment of my inin Figure 3. Said lu y be formed in y vention illustrated in the drawing: I 0 indicates convenient manner, and as shown herein, each a cabinet and II indicates a sorting tray. Th consists of a bolt and nut secured to the plattray is of familiar construction and is designed to receive and retain the familiar index guide cards and folders (not shown) in general use in filing systems.

The cabinet may be of any suitable construction and made of anydesired material. Preferably, and as illustrated, the cabinet is made of sheet metal fabricated in any familiar manner to provide its parts hereafter mentioned. It

form is and to the railof the side of the stand, with the head as shown in Figure 5 forming the lug l9 or Ill as the case may be.

The operation of the transfer sorting cabinet will be obvious from the foregoing. When it is to be used by one who is seated, as in first sorting the papers in the tray, the tray I l is brought to rest with the supporting flanges l8 in engagement with the lugs l9 on the platform 14, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. When the contents of the tray are to be transferred to the files, and the operator is in a standing position, the tray is raised and turned at right angles and broughtto rest with its supporting flange l8 engaged with the lugs [9 Ill on the top rails of the sides l2, l2 of the stand, as shown in Figures 2 and 4. For convenience in lifting the tray, the end Walls ll are provided with hand holes Il It will be noted that in the construction as illustrated, the side walls ll of the tray are somewhat greater in height than the distance from the top rails of the sides l2 of the pedestal to the supporting platform I4. As a result, said tray side walls ll stand above the level of the top of the pedestal. This is desirable, as other-- wise the side walls of the pedestal might interfere with ready access to the contents of the tray.

While in describing my invention I have referred to several details of mechanical construction and arrangement, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto except as may be pointed out in the appended claims.

7 I claim as my invention:

1. A cabinet comprising an upright pedestal having a'vertically disposed compartment open at the top and at the front and rear sides of said pedestal. means providing a stop defining the depth of said compartment, a sorting tray having a bottom wall, upright side walls and upwardly and outwardly inclined end walls, said tray being of a width to be inserted into the open top of said compartment in said pedestal, with its end Walls disposed in the front and rear openings thereof and with its bottom wall supported on said stop means, and the bottom wall of said tray being of such length that when said tray is withdrawn from said compartment it may be disposed in position to bridge said compartment transversely with its ends supported upon said pedestal.

2. A cabinet comprising an upright pedestal having a vertically disposed compartment open at the top and at the front and rear sides of, said pedestal, a horizontal shelf fixed within said pedestal below its top and defining the bottom of said compartment, a sorting tray having a bottom wall, upright side walls and upwardly and outwardly inclined end walls, said tray being of a width to be inserted into theopen top of said compartment in said pedestal,

with its end walls disposed in the front and rear openings thereof and with its bottom wall sup-' ported on said shelf, and the bottom Wall of said tray being of such length that when 'said tray is withdrawn from said compartment it may be disposed in position to bridge said com- 7 

